COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)

Clowney sat out Saturday's scrimmage and Monday night's practice before returning to the field on Tuesday. South Carolina did not practice Sunday. Gamecocks defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward had said that Clowney's injury was not serious.

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier may have sped up Clowney's return to the field, saying that if the defensive end's shoulder didn't show improvement soon, the Gamecocks might have to go without him in the opener against North Carolina on Aug. 29.

“If (Clowney’s shoulder) doesn't come around real soon, we may play without him the first game…We've got a bunch of hurt guys who act like they are really hurt so right now they may not play,” Spurrier said, according to ABC Carolina.

Clowney had 13 sacks last season and was named the Southeastern Conference's defensive player of the year. He finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy balloting behind winner quarterback Johnny Manziel of Texas A&M.

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